LAHORE
The Provincial Management Services (PMS) officers’ association threatened to start a protest movement if the government did not initiate action against Mines and Minerals MD Shafqat Ranjha for beating one of their senior colleagues.
Talking to reporters, PMS officers’ association information secretary Asifa murtaza alleged that Ranjha abused and severely thrashed a Grade 19 PMS officer Ataullah Sidiqui, who is the Punjab mineral development corporation secretary, in Ranjha’s office on October 11 during office hours. According to details, the former MD Rao Manzar Hayat had purchased some cars after compromising the rules. The incumbent MD, Ranjha, has retained the same number of cars while he is entitled to have only one car and driver. She said Mines and Mineral Department Secretary Saifulah Chatha had directed Sidiqui to “give in writing” all the aforementioned allegations. “Upon this, Ranjha called Siddiqui in his office and after abusing him, severely beat him up with the help of his guard…so much so that Siddiqui fainted on the spot,” Asifa said. She further complained that the SHO has still not lodged a case against the accused despite a lapse of two days because of orders from the police high ups.
PMS Officers’ Association President Rai Manzoor put forward four demands i.e. an FIR should be registered against the accused, he should be arrested, he should be repatriated to the federal government and the government should write to the federal government to dismiss Ranjha over misconduct. He said if these demands are not met until Sunday, they PMS officers will start a protest from Monday. He further demanded from the chief minister to take notice of the situation and redress their grievances.
Ataullah Siddiqui said no doubt his community was standing by him, but the demand is to register an FIR against one person and not the entire DMG staff. Nevertheless, he said the DMG officers were giving full protection to their colleague.
